Gold Dust Commercial Realty joins national firm

Sperry Van Ness, a national commercial real estate firm, is joining with Gold Dust Commercial Associates in Carson City.

Tom Johnson, the owner and founder of Gold Dust, will be senior adviser. Longtime staff members Bruce Robertson and Jack Brower will stay on as advisers, and Dixie Fondi and Mary Danna have been named junior advisers.

Johnson said he's been working on a deal since November. Gold Dust became Sperry Van Ness/Gold Dust Commercial Associates on July 1.

"I've been an independent for 25 years and, at this point, I feel it's important to offer my clients national exposure," he said. "This affiliation gives us the ability to expose local properties to the national market using methods no one else has.

"We've already had some referrals from the Bay area, in addition to properties over there that we can refer people to" he said. "Many times, real estate investors own property in more than one location so a national affiliation is a real advantage."

Johnson has 30 years' experience in real estate locally and has brokered sales on several major properties, including the Ormsby House Hotel and Casino. He's brokered more than 100 businesses to Nevada, and for the past 15 years has been involved in the redevelopment of Carson City's historic downtown.

"We're pleased to award Sperry Van Ness affiliation to Johnson and his associates," said Lisa Galloway, regional director for Sperry Van Ness. "Their reputation for providing superb service makes them an excellent addition to Sperry Van Ness' growing team of world-class advisers."

Johnson has a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and is a member of the Northern Nevada Development Association, the Western Bankers Association and the Board of Realtors. He's been chairman and a member of the Regional Planning Commission and the Regional Development Authority. He is on Carson City's Committee for Alternative Energy.

Based in Irvine, Calif., Sperry Van Ness provides brokerage, consultation, asset management, property management, leasing and financial services to clients in more than 70 U.S. markets.